Memphis Grizzlies guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots on Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski
Los Angeles: Andre Drummond had 23 points and 20 rebounds and Ish Smith tallied a season-high 25, including a clutch triple in the final minute, as the Detroit Pistons beat the Miami Heat 111-107 on Saturday.
Blake Griffin helped offset a poor shooting night by making a key three pointer with 44 seconds remaining in the fourth.
The 28-year-old Griffin, who spent all eight NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Pistons on Monday, missed his first five shots from beyond the arc before making one in the final minute. He finished six-of-19 from the field with 16 total points.
The Pistons won their third straight game since the trade and are 2-0 with Griffin in uniform as they pulled within a game of .500 with a 25-26 record on the season.
Goran Dragic scored 33 points for the Heat, who have lost three in a row. Miami was missing centre Hassan Whiteside, who was sidelined with an illness.
With the Pistons ahead by four and 44 seconds to play, Griffin hit a triple to give Detroit a 108-101 lead.
Dragic responded with a four-point play, making a three-pointer while being fouled with 32 seconds left.
Detroit ran the clock down and on the next possession and Griffin found a wide-open Smith who sank his only three-point attempt of the game with 14 seconds left to restore the lead to six points.
Elsewhere, Tobias Harris scored 24 points in his Clippers' debut, leading Los Angeles to a 113-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Danilo Gallinari also had 24 points, Lou Williams added 21 points and six assists, and Montrezl Harrell scored 14 as the Clippers won for the third time in four games.
